A YOUNG LADY CAST IN DAMAGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8986, 17 September 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

A YOUNG LADY CAST IN DAMAGES.

At Chester assizes an action was brought by Albert Timmis, a young farmer, of Eaton Constaritine, Iron Bridge, Shropshire, against Miss Mary Birch, a young lady of independent means, to recover damages for bieach of promise of marriage. In his opening statement Mr. Bankes said this form of action was peculiar, but the young man had no course open but to bring the case to court, and to answer there fully and openly very unjust accusations which Miss Birch had made against him. For two or three years tho young lady kept him dangling at her heels just to please her vanity, and at tho last moment threw him over. She said she was too good for a farmer's wife, and would never buy a husband, insinuating that the plaintiff had only been after her for her money. Plaintiff, who loved the girl deeply, was disappointed and hurt, and wished to clear his character from the most unjust aspersions. Tho defence was that 40* paid into court was sufficient compensation for the injury to the plaintiffs prospects in the matrimonial market, and that there was no evidence of injury to character? Mr. Justice Lawrence said that if they were to hold the scales of justice equally between man and woman, the plaintiff had been badly treated, and his letters revealed manly and touching sentiment, which did him credit. The jury awarded plaintiff £50.